Signaling system



Aug. 8, 1939. G. w. VVA-rsa 2,168,460

' SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Aug". 17, 1955 E lNvENToR Patented Aug. 8, 1939 SIGNALIN G SYSTEM Glenn W. Watson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, Y., a corporation of New York Application August 17, 1935, serial No. 36,649

6 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to signaling systems and more particularly to remotely controlled recording or indicating devices used in conjunction with alarm signaling systems.

The present invention is applicable to line or radio transmission for use in locations such as banks, ofllces, etc., whereby a single operation of a release key or switch automatically initiates predetermined signals which are transmitted to a receiving station which may be in suitable 1ocations such as police headquarters, offices, etc.

The operation of the release key at the sending station permits a pre-punched tape to be sensed to transmit signals at particular timed intervals. 'I'he signal representations of different indicia are .differentiated bythe transmission at the particular allotted timed intervals; The sensing of the tape causes a receiving station to be operated wherein a rotary distributor is released to operate in timed relationship with the transmitting tape. Provisions are made at the receiving station to record the signal representations or to operate indicating' mechanisms such as a light bank or annunciator, etc.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide broadly for automatic signal transmissionjnitiated by a release key whereby recording or indicating instrumentalities are automatically operated and upon completion of said transmission to automatically return the system to normal condition.

Various other objects and ,advantages of my invention will be obvious from the following particular description lof one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawing; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically one embodiment Vof the automatic signaling system.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of one form of indicating instrumentality energized to display the -received indicia.

Referring to Fig. 1, a pre-punched tape Ill is shown comprising a plurality of single perforations II arranged to be sensed by brush I2 in succession. -The tape is fed from a supply roll I3 bythe feeding rollers I4 which are adapted to be driven by a synchronous-motor I5 or other suitable means through gearing I6. A take-up roll I1 is shown which may be rotated by the pulley arrangement I8. A friction clutch I9 is designed to connect the motor shaft to gearing I5 whenever the release key 20 is depressed. In the embodiment shown, the motor I5 connected 'to supply source 2I is rotated continuously, so

that upon depression of key'20 the relay 22 is energized to close the circuit to clutch I9 through its contacts 23, the motor eiecting feeding of the punched tape. Relay 22 is a timed delay type so that the contacts 23 remain closed for a predetermined time even though the key 2.0 is

to permit the pre-punched signals to be comu i pletely sensed and transmitted.

It is obvious that this control circuit may be altered so that the motor is not operated continuously but can be cut-in and connected to the supply source by the depression of key and thus feed the perforated tape. Employing this method the friction clutch I9 is not necessary.

Sensing of the perforations by brush I2 and conducting plate 2l completes a circuit to -relay 25 thus actuating a signal transmitter 26 through the operated contacts 21.

The transmitted timed signals actuate a signal receiver 21 to energize a control relay 28 accordingly. Associated with the receiver 21 is shown a rotary distributor comprising a pluralityof conducting segments 3| adapted to be y operation of relay the released arm 32 is adapted to be rotated by a continuously rotating synchronous motor 36 through a friction member 31 so long as the relay 35 remains energized to maintain the latch 34 in an operative position, that is, out of the path ofarm 32.

Motor 36 is energized by the same supply source energizing motor I5 so that both motors can be adapted to operate in synchronism. Therefore, by positioning the perforations at predetermined positions and in accordance with the allocation of contact segments 3l, the indicia transmitted by representative signals from the sending station will be received and reproduced or indicated in accordance therewith.v

For example, let it be assumed that perforation I I-a sensed by brush I2 is adapted to transmit a signal to release the rotary arm 32 normally at rest on contact segment 3IT and perforation II--b upon analyzation the sensing position is adapted to represent the numeral 9 and is sensed by brush I2 at a timed interval,.

2 after the sensing of the perforation Il-a, and

equivalent to the timed interval required by the rotary arm 32 upon its release to engage contact segment 3|.-3. Similarly assume that per.

. sensing operation or analyzation of the perforations is in timed relationship with the operation of the distributor. From the foregoing, it is understood 'that the perforations II-a to d represent a start signal'and a numerical representation 34|.

Associated with the distributor 30 and connected to the contact segments thereof are vari- `ous controlled instrumentalities to translate the signal representations and may comprise recording, punching, annunciating or indicating instrumentalities, etc. and explain but a limited number of such receiving devices. Solenoids 40 to 43 are connected to several of the distributorcontacts 3l which may he adapted upon energization to operate the keys of devices such as punches or typewriters, etc., further disclosure of which is deemed unnecessary since a complete description of such a recording device is set forth in a co-pending application Serial No. 677,018, filed June 22, 1933, Patent No. 2,066,786 dated January 5,' 1937.

Referring again to the sending unit, it was described that upon depression of the release key the prepunched tape I is fed forward to the sensing brush and in the sensing position let it be assumed that a start signal perforation is analyzed such as` l I-a. The signal actuates the receiver 21 to energize the relay 23 whereby grounded battery 45 is connected to rotary arm 32 .through the operated contacts 44, thence by brush 33 through contact segment 3l-T to the grounded -relay 35. Energization of said relay attracts the latch 34 to release arm 32 and also operates its contacts 46 to permit a locking circuit to be established by connecting grounded .battery 41 through contacts 43 and normally closed contacts 43 to the grounded relay 35. Thus the rotary arm 32 is permitted to rotate until the normally closed contacts 43 are operated.

During the first revolution of rotary arm 32 just before the brush 33 is in a position to engage contact 3I3, perforation II-b approaches the sensing position for analyzation whereby a signal impulse is transmitted to energize relay 23, whereby the grounded battery 45 is now connected to contact 3l3 to energize the solenoid 43 through conductors 43 and 53 effecting recording of the character 3. Similarly upon analyzation of perforations II-c and II-d, respectively, and during the successive rotations of arm 32 solenoids 42 and 4l, respectively, are energized successively to record representations 4 and 1 accordingly.

It was mentioned, hereinbefore, that other types of receiving devices could be operated in such systems oneA form of which is a visually indicating device such as light-bulb instrumentalities and one form of operation of which will now be described. o

Briey, the device includes a plurality of char- It is deemed suilcient to show l acter receiving and indicating instrumentalities such as indicated by the electric light bulbs 5I and the characters associated therewith and indicated 52 arranged in a preferred order as shown in Figure 2. Associated with each vbulb isa controlling relay whereby the energized light bulbs may be maintained in that condition until the entire representation is received so that the entire number, for example, may be viewed as indicated in Fig. 2 and shown to be 34|.

The indicating device just described is arranged to be energized successively at the same time the received signals energize the corresponding recording instrumentalities.

Therefore, recalling that the analyzation of perforation II-a released the distributor arm 32 and that the successive perforations analyzed successively energized the contact segments 3I-3, 3l-4 and 3|-l during the three revolutions of arm 32, the operation is as follows.

Energization of contact 3I-9 by grounded battery 45 and through conductors 43, 50 and 53, normally closed contacts 54, relay 55 and conductor 56, contact 51--l of stepping relay 53, stepper arm 53 to ground energizes relay 55. 'I'he relay contacts 50 are adapted to closebefore lcontacts 54 break so that grounded battery is connected through contact 50, relay 55, closed contact 6l, conductor 62 and normally closed con tacts 63 to ground, thereby maintaininga lock circuit for relay 55, so when rotary arm 32 continues its rotation, the light bulb 5|-a representing the character 9 remains energized by the grounded battery through contact 64. The indicating bulb remains energized so long as normally closed contact 53 maintains the locking circuit described.

When the rotary arm 32 engages contact3I-R, the grounded battery 55 energizes the stepper coil due to the ground connection afforded by contact 3I--M and its associated brush 3l. The stepper coil is automatically energized for each revolution of the arm 32 to step arm 53 forward to the adjacent contact 51.

'I'he stepper relay 53 is but briefly described herein, because the operation thereof is well known to those skilled in the art, however a complete description and disclosure thereof is set forth in the co-pending application Serial No. 737,013, filed July 26, 1934, Patent No. 2,113,611 dated April 8, 1938.

'I'he engagement of brushes 33 and 61 with contacts 3|-R and v3l-M, respectively, as just described, causes the stepper arm 53 to engage its associated contact 51-2.

I Therefore during the second revolution of rotary arm 32 and upon reception of the signal representative of the character 4 (second order) relay 13 is lenergized to establish a stick circuit similarly as described for relay 55. It is obvious that only the relay 'Il corresponding to the character 4 in secondl bank can be operated due to the position of stepper arm 53. The light bulb 5l-b representing 4 remains energized so long as the grounded contacts 33 remain in the normally closed position.

Near the 'completion of the second revolution V arm 32 again engages contacts 3I-R and 3|-M to step arm 53 to contact 51-3 to permit a representation in the third bank to be energized. Relay 1I during the third revolution of arm 32 when the contact 3l| is engaged becomes enersized due to the operation of relay 23 upon reception of` the transmitted signal to become 32 from further rotation, .until a. start signal is again received, permitting similar control of the receiving devices. The stopl signal is initiated by a representative perforation similar to perforations I I-a to d, and it is understood that this signal is transmitted at a suitable timed interval after thev indicia signals have been transmitted.

Similarly `with the energization of relay 12, coil 13 of the stepper relay 58 is energized tooperate contacts 63 thereby breaking all locking circuits to the energized relays 10 and 1i restoring the said relays to normal position. Also, energiza'tion of coil 13 restores the stepper arm to its normal position; namely, contact 51--I, placing the circuits in condition, so that upon reception of astart signal the indicating'devices are energizedin accordanceA with the transmitted signals and in the correct order. It is well to note that the normally closed contacts 54, 14 and 15a of relays 55, 'lll and 1l respectively are operated when the associatedl relays are energized to prevent additional energization of the corresponding solenoids 43, 42 and 4I of the recording devices due to the grounded battery at contacts 60, 15 and 16a. It is understood that an individual relay device is associated with each light bulb circuit and are indicated assuch by the designation 16.

While there has shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a signaling system, means comprising a perforated sheet to transmit a plurality of successively timed signals comprising particular representations, said signals i comprising single impulses having similar characteristics, means to receive said signals comprising a start-stop rotary distributor including means so as to be4 operated in timed relationship with said transmitting means, and indicating instrumentalities associated with said `distributor to indicate the representations in accordance with the transmitted signals.

2. In a signaling system, signal representation storing'` means comprising a perforated sheet,

means adapted to analyze said storing means, means to control automatically the analyzation of said storing means for a. predetermined period, means vto transmit the signals analyzed at particular timed intervals said signals comprising single impulses having similar characteristics, means to receive said signals comprising a startstop rotary distributor including means so as to be operated in timed relationship with said analyzation of the storing means, and receiving instrumentalities `responsive to the received signals.

3. In a signaling system, vmeans comprising a perforated sheet to transmit a plurality of successively timed signals comprising particular representations, said signals comprising vsingle impulses having similar characteristics, means to receive said signals comprising a start-stop rotary distributor including means so as to be operated in timed relationship with said signal transmitting means, a plurality of ordersof receiving instrumentalities responsive to the transmitted signals, and means to maintain said instrumentalities in a responsive condition until complete reception of the representation. i

4. In a signaling system, means comprising a perforated sheet to transmit a plurality of successively timed signals comprising particular representations, said signals comprising single impulses having similar characteristics, means to receive said signals comprising a startstop rotary distributor including means so as to be operatedin timed relationship with said signal transmitting means, a plurality of orders of receiving instrumentalities, including means to register the representations corresponding to the signals, responsive to the received signals, and means comprising a stepping relay to control successively theY responsive action of the orders of said receiving instrumentalities.

5. The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein means are provided to restore to normal condition the receiving instrumentalities which have been maintained in a`responsive condition until complete receptionof the said representation'.

6. In a signaling system, means comprising a perforated sheet to transmit a plurality of successively timed signals comprising particular lrepresentations, said signals comprising single impulses having similar characteristics, lmeans to receive said signals comprising a start-stop rotary distributor, means responsive to one of saidsignals to start the said distributor, means to operate said distributor a pluraltiy of revolutions in timed'relationship with said signal transmitting means, a plurality of orders of receiving instrumentalities including means to registerthe representations corresponding to the received signals, means comprising a stepping relay to control successively the responsive orders of the said receiving instrumentalities,

and means to operate automatically the stepping relay upon each revolution ofthe said distributor.

- GLENN W. WATSON.

action of the 

